Phoenix Phire

Chapter 508 - Two Birds, One Stone

Nix appeared in front of Shae a moment later; Cyra had her bow drawn while Bensic was charging forward with a spear thrust. Without thinking, Nix raised one hand, and a half dozen flame strands punctured into the Shadow Rangers body; yanking back, he put her directly in Bensic's path. The Burrough Commander managed to stop his thrust, but Nix leaped forward and punched the ranger in the chest; an instant later, the spear pierced her back and exited through her abdomen.

[Black Ice: Sculpture]

Cyra Yun has been encased in Black Ice.

Nix pushed emerald flames into his sword hilt and dodged around the ice sculpture; more than half of the spear had been frozen into the Black Ice sculpture. Bensic released his hold on the spear and produced a longsword with a vicious sawblade edge on one side.

[Balefire: Hex][Hellfire Burst]

Shae has landed a partial attack on Bensic.

[Mitigated by 90 percent]

Shae has landed a partial attack on Bensic.

[Mitigated by 90 percent]

Rabi has shared [Enemy Information]

Bensic [Surname Unknown][Class Unknown][Weakness: Silver Element]

/Bravo: Nix: Let me pull Bensic away, finish Cyra!

/Inferno: Shae: We're fighting the Burrough Commander! Going to retreat toward the frontline! He's weak against silver!

/Inferno: Jun Li: That's me and Chiba.

Nix's emerald fire blade met the jagged blade of Bensic with a deafening crash that moved both fighters backward. The salamander morphed into human skeleton form; twin fire blades held in either hand. "Don't charge him!"

Shae darted toward Bensic, both blades poised to strike as she stepped into his guard and cast [Flashfire]. At the last moment, she ducked through the cloud of flames, her blades slashing in an 'X' as she attacked ruthlessly. The moment dragged on for a long second; the Burrough Commander's eyes widened in shock when Cyra's frozen head dropped to the ground with a soft thud and rolled away from her body.

Shae has slain Cyra Yun.

/Bravo: Nix: Let's try to disengage! We don't have the support here!

Bensic has become [Enraged].

A dozen Emerald strands impaled into the legs of the Burrough Commander as he charged toward the salamander. Shae morphed back into her natural skeleton form and retreated toward the front line. Bensic followed, dragging Nix along as the Inferno leader's feet dug deep furrows into the ground while trying to slow his progress.

[Quartered][Backstab][Pickpocket]

Combination partially Successful.

Bensic is Immune to controlling effects.

Rabi has landed a critical hit.

[Mitigated by 90 percent]

Rabi has stolen the Ring of Burroughs!

[Sudden Switch][Backstab][Double Slash]

Triple Combination Successful.

Sasi has landed a critical hit.

[Mitigated by 90 percent]

Sasi has landed a Double Attack.

[Mitigated by 90 percent, 10 percent]

[Sudden Switch][First Strike][Backstab][Void Strike]

Quadruple Combination partially Successful.

Wind had landed a critical hit.

[Mitigated by 90 percent]

Wind has missed with a [Backstab].

Wind has missed with a [Void Strike]

/Bravo: Wind: His health isn't dropping!

Bensic turned toward Wind, his blade slashing diagonally in what looked to be a casual swing. The skeleton thief retreated backward but was struck on the side with enough force to send him spinning into the air.

Wind has received a mortal wound and has fallen unconscious.

After failing to slow down the Burrough Commander, Nix released his flame strands and dived at the armored man's back. Instead of attacking, he wrapped his arms around the thick waist and tried to pick him bodily off the ground. Bensic's feet came off the ground easily for a moment before sinking back into the soft turn.

Bensic has cast [Anchored]

Bensic's movement speed is slowed by twenty percent.

[Defender of Justice: Fire][Iron Mount]

Combination Successful.

Bensic has chosen Fire Immunity. All fire-based attacks will result in severe backlash to the caster.

A large gray Warhorse appeared in front of Bensic. The Burrough Commander grabbed the pommel with one hand and started to swing into the saddle; a moment later, he roared in pain and took several steps backward when a flash of silver stopped him from mounting. He clutched the stump of his left hand, his red eyes staring at the newcomer.

The old woman smiled in appreciation as she leered at him. "I do like them big. Come... Dance with beautiful Chiba."

The Swordmaster flashed toward him, her silver blade stabbing into the joints of his armor before retreating from the counter-attack. Nimbly she held him in place, a weave of silver blades defending and striking but never overextending. Slowly she drew him away from the others, who removed Wind from the area.

Chiba has joined Bravo.

/Bravo: Chiba: Apprentice! Let's attack this tank at the same t...

Chiba easily escaped a thrust, her agile steps faltering slightly when she spotted her apprentice. Nix picked up the shield that Bensic had dropped and climbed onto the Burrough Commander's Mount.

She shook her head in dismay and circled around. "Mounted attacks won't ..."

Skeleton Nix ignored her words and heeled the mount. Unlike his own horse, this one didn't seem to care who was in the saddle. It surged forward powerfully toward its master.

Bensic disengaged from Chiba and turned toward the mounted threat. "YOU DARE TOUCH MY MOUNT!"

Nix reined to one side, the Warhorse dodging impressively, despite its enormous girth. A moment later, horse and rider thundered past the Burrough Commander, leaving him staring in disbelief. The Skeleton Spellsword grabbed his Master's hand and helped her into the saddle as they galloped toward the frontlines.

Chiba's laughter echoed above the pounding hooves. "Come and get it, Bitch!"

/Bravo: Chiba: My lovely apprentice strikes again. I cut his hand off; make sure to fetch it for your Master once the battle is over.

/Bravo: Nix: Since you asked nicely...

Chiba glanced over her shoulder, her smile widening at their pursuit. "He's following."

/Inferno: Nix: Tanks and healers ready. Boss Incoming!

/Inferno: Jun Li: You heard him! I want both Bone Bears to the front. Range fighters, get to the Sniper Nests! Melee DPS will stand down for this one.

[Whisper: Nix to Jun Li] Send Sharl, Gil, and the Melee DPS to the Burrough Graveyard instead. I'm sending the Booming Bobs in.

Nix brought up his hud; there was only one trail heading south, the galloping Warhorse had no trouble charging down it. He quickly assigned a new destination for the Booming Bobs before closing the hud and gripping the reins with both hands. Within a few moments, they approached the first defensive barricades. "Going to leave this fight to the guild while I meet up with the Graveyard team."

Chiba glanced over her shoulder again; although he wasn't gaining, the Burrough Commander was still within sight. "Leaving the pissed off Boss to your guildies?"

Nix nodded. "Of course. It's good training for Mor..." Before he could finish the sentence, the mount disappeared from beneath them, and both riders crashed to the ground into a rolling mixture of bones and flesh.

Chiba has been stunned.

Nix has resisted stun.

Without pausing, Nix picked the old woman up and ran for the second barricade. Within a few seconds, he could hear the hoofbeats closing on them.

/Inferno: Nix: Coming in hot!

They were almost to the safety of the second defensive line when the enraged Commander caught them. Nix tossed Chiba forward and equipped his dual bladed Flame Wrath staff. He braced for the impact of the charging beast but instead, he was brushed aside as twenty feet of Bone Emperor stepped in front of him.

Bone and Armor collided with a thunderous crash that unhorsed the Burrough Commander as he impacted the immovable object, Mortimer.

The Bone cub reared up on his hind legs and was on Bensic before he could recover his footing. "Here it comes!" A huge bone paw slammed into the Burrough Commander's helmed head, knocking him into a skid that covered several meters. "SWAT!"

Nix continued to retreat, passing Mortimus as he moved beside his cub.

/Inferno: Nix: You got this?

/Inferno: Jun Li: Yes. Keep on mission!

Nix spotted the Bone dragon waiting next to the furthest sniper nest. He sprinted toward her and, within a few moments, was back in the air. "Thanks for the lift! We can't use the brooms while in Skelly form."

Fey's massive wings worked hard as they gained altitude quickly before banking toward enemy lines. "What happen to that nice horse you were riding?"

Nix shrugged slightly. "He summoned it back... Stingy bastard. Hug the western coastline; we're heading to Striker Precinct." He paused in thought for a moment, yellow eyes staring at the black cloud of smoke hovering over HQ.

/Alpha: Nix: You guys in HQ?

/Alpha: Pon: Nix! Done slacking yet? We're heading toward the graveyard!

/Alpha: Nix: Sending you coordinates, meet there, and we'll head in on brooms. Our cover is intact... probably.

/Alpha: Semmi: What happened with Cyra and Bensic?

/Alpha: Nix: Cyra is dead, I handed Bensic to the camp. His defense ability was a bit much for a small group.

/Alpha: Semmi: We retreating? Or going undercover?

/Alpha: Nix: We're taking the graveyard. Sharl, Gil, and our melee are heading in. We might as well pave the way for them.

Fey dropped off Nix at the coordinates he gave the rest of the team. Fajii, Pon, and Semmi were already waiting for him. The bone dragon headed back toward the Bensic fight while Nix equipped his [Thine Enemy] ring.

Nix took a moment to get his broom and led them back into the air; within a few minutes, the graveyard was in view.

*What team is approaching the Striker Graveyard? Identify yourself!*

Nix turned the black comm ring. "Pelos, you fucking idiot! Why are you hiding in the graveyard? Cyra is dead, and Commander Bensic is attacking the enemy camp! We need those fighters!"

*Adder Team? Cyra is dead? How come I wasn't notified?*

Nix smiled at Pon who grinning from ear to ear; neither of them liked the obnoxious Precinct Commander. "With Cyra down and Bensic out... Aren't you in charge?"